Western Sydney cannot be overlooked for Stadium Funding

Release Date: 30/04/2015

ANZ Stadium at Homebush and Pirtek Stadium at Parramatta must be the clear priorities of the NSW Government stadium upgrade strategy, according to David Borger, Western Sydney Director of the Sydney Business Chamber.

“When looking at the construction and upgrade of sports stadia across the world, the clear trend is to build them where the people are, and in Sydney, that’s Western Sydney,” Mr Borger said.

“In a week where the President of the IOC has been in Sydney to reminisce about the ‘best Olympic Games ever’ it seems ridiculous to think the Homebush facility could be overlooked for its much needed upgrade by the Baird Government. What would happen then?

“When you look at some of the events that ANZ Stadium will host in the next month, you have the opening State of Origin Rugby League match, the Super 15 Rugby Grand Final replay, and Sydney FC take on English Premier League giants Chelsea and Tottenham.

“There is a bold vision for what the entire Homebush precinct could look like, and how it could transform the area – including job creation.

“The Parramatta Stadium site is also in urgent need of an upgrade and increased capacity to reflect the growing population and the fact it is now used all year round by the Eels and the Wanderers.

“This shouldn’t be about ‘us vs them’ – it should be about the best value for the available funding, and by any measure that must see ANZ Stadium and Pirtek Stadium receive at least two thirds of what is being spent.

“There is certainly an amount of speculation the Moore Park area will get the bulk, or all, of the funding for a proposed redevelopment of Allianz Stadium.

“What I’m saying to the Government is, you cannot ignore the Homebush and Parramatta sites and throw all of the available money at one venue in the Eastern Suburbs, it makes no sense economically and it’s not where the people are” Mr Borger said.